forefather

[fawr-fah-ther, fohr-]

noun

1. an ancestor.

   Synonyms: forerunner, patriarch, progenitor, forebear

forefather

/ ˈfɔːˌfɑːðə /

noun

1. an ancestor, esp a male

Other Word Forms

• forefatherly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forefather¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, forefather is from the Middle English word forefader. See fore-, father

Example Sentences

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Salomon Brothers had entire years—great years!—in which five proprietary traders, the intellectual forefathers of Howie Hubler, generated more than the firm’s annual profits.

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Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were also forefathers of the movement, but it was Sabbath that "cemented it," adds Taylor.

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As the forefather of 'juego de posicion', the 'positional play' that has dominated world football since his Barcelona side won everything 15 years ago, this is a sizeable admission.

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"The house bears the footprints of my forefathers – the house to me is on hallowed ground."

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He fears having to sell off parts of his family's 700-acre hill farm near Bridgend to afford a future tax bill, saying his forefathers would be "turning in their graves".

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